Autocracy-lite in Jordan
...King Abdullah II's decision to dissolve Jordan's parliament barely two years into its term, and delay fresh elections until late 2010 was interpreted by Freedom House as "an attempt to manipulate the political process" and a decline in political rights. In spite of this, Jordan retains a carefully fashioned friendly image in the west and remains a key US regional ally, with Abdullah becoming the first Arab leader to visit Obama's White House in April last year. With US strategy under Obama seemingly shifting from democracy promotion towards stability-focused realism, is Amman's backsliding the shape of things to come? Is Jordan's friendly-faced "autocracy lite" the best that democracy advocates can hope for?

First among equals?
...Perhaps predictably, the majority of the press devoted to these women focuses on their appearance. Several Arab-American blogs debate who is ‘hotter,’ Queen Rania of Jordan or Asma al-Assad, wife of the President of Syria. And when the latter appeared at her husband’s side in a state visit to France in 2008, the French fashion press gushed over her every ensemble and voted her even more chic than French first lady and former model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

Jordan's Queen Rania hosted a three-day tour of her country following the baptism of Rupert Murdoch's daughters.
The queen - who attended the baptism of the media mogul's children, Grace, eight and Chloe, six - was among a number of high-profile figures at the ceremony, including Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman who become godparents to the 79-year-old billionaire's daughters.
The girls were baptised with holy water in the chapel at the Baptism site of Jesus Christ - where Jesus is said to have been immersed in the waters of the Jordan by John the Baptist - and Queen Rania later held a special dinner.

Thank you Kasumi for the link to the article as it has interesting content... It must have been a fabulous baptism, after all the rich and influencial of this world can afford such "dignity". But I do appreciate Queen Rania's effort to promote Jordan's beauty among celebrities. It served both the country and its people and the Queen presented herself at her best again!

Yes Monic its a book by children. She has written three stories before: “The King’s Gift”, “Eternal Beauty” and "Maha of the Mountains". "The Sandwich Swap" authors are Queen and Kelly DiPucchio
To read "Maha of the Mountains": http://www.campaignforeducation.org/...ia%20story.pdf

http://i44.tinypic.com/jb0g1l.jpg
do you recognize this lady ? I want to share this with you : her name is Suhad Shtayyeh rania's personal assistant ; she was with her in university ; my ex manager was suhad's niece :)

__________________His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal was my role model all my life, loved him so much, may God bless his soul, and paradise will be his final destinationHis soul was too great to be contained by the camera's lens ,yet his images radiate his love for his family , his faith , his pride on his country and people the world over who shared his commitment to peace and his joy in life . Queen Noor

http://i44.tinypic.com/jb0g1l.jpg
do you recognize this lady ? I want to share this with you : her name is Suhad Shtayyeh rania's personal assistant ; she was with her in university ; my ex manager was suhad's niece :)

Egyptian Nobel Peace Laureate Mohamed El-Baradei has become the most popular Arab political figure on Facebook,
overtaking Jordan's Queen Rania's previously dominant position across global social networks...Source & Article